Psalm 16
Scripture Psalm 16:5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
2 Chronicles 9
Psalm_14
Scripture
Psalm 14:5-7
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
– New International Version
5 Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.
6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the Lord will protect his people.
7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the Lord restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
– New Living Translation
Observation
Although it’s unconfirmed exactly what Saul was facing when this Psalm was written, it’s clear he felt oppressed and/or opposed by unbelievers.
Understanding
The message is clear…
– God is with those who obey Him
– The Lord will protect His people
– The Lord restores His people
And the third (verse 7) is my favorite…
7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the Lord restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
It’s not a matter of if God will restore, but when; and we are reminded throughout Psalms that we serve a God who restores, who draws near, who heals, who rescues.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. – Psalm 34:18
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. – Psalm 41:3
Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice. – Psalm 53:6
And, if we believe that our God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever more, then it’s safe to say, we still serve a God of restoration today.
Life Application
God is the great restorer.
Restorer of relationships, hearts, people.
Restoration can take many looks – healing, the righting of wrongs, forgiveness, being made whole, providing peace – all of which we need today.
May we cry out like David for the restoration we desire and need today – in our families, in our nation, in the hearts of those we love.
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2 Chronicles 7
Scripture 2 Chronicles 7:4-5 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
Observation-What does it say? After the nation of Israel worked to build the temple, and to fill it with all the different articles, including the altar, golden bowls, spoons etc., they brought forth an offering. A sacrifice offering that totaled approximately 26,000,000 pounds of oxen and 18,000,000 pounds of sheep. But before the sacrifice was accepted, Solomon prayed. Solomon pleaded with God that he would hear the nation of Israel when they cried out to him. God, in return revealed Himself to Israel in the form of fire.
Understanding-What does it mean? Dodger stadium, which is the largest stadium in the major league, holds 56,000 fans. As I was reading this passage, I got this picture of piling the field at Dodger stadium full of sheep and cows. After all of the field, and probably most of the field level seats, the left and right field pavilion, plus some of lodge level were filled three and four animals deep, we started a prayer service somewhere in China town. As P.E.T.A begins their protest for the unethical treatment of the animals, God sends His fire down on Dodger stadium and consumes the whole place. Not only would the fire be visible for almost one hundred miles, but the heat would be felt from quite a distance as well. It sort of brings a whole new meaning to the God being a consuming fire.
I am guilty of not realizing the power of prayer in my life. Multiple times through scripture, we are warned not to turn away from God because he is a consuming fire. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 tells us to not “forget the covenant of the Lord your God” because He is a jealous God. In Hebrews 12:28-29, the author tells us, “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God” because He is a consuming fire. We are both warned of His power to destroy us, and to lift us up using the same phrase. In my opinion, I would rather see the fruits of kneeling before him and the result of turning away.
Life Application Jesus, help me to kneel before you everyday. Let me know the joy of not only bringing my requests before you, but also of hearing you speak. Help me to be part of the generation that sees your fire in glory, and not in rage. Help me to take joy in the discipline of coming before you.
-Tyler Galloway
1 Timothy_3
Scripture
1 Timothy 3:2-7 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife,temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Observation
The Apostle Paul continued in his letter to Timothy about the qualifications of a person being admitted to the office of a bishop or deacon.
Understanding
Shouldn’t we all live in a way that we too could be an overseer?
Above reproach
Faithful to our spouse
Temperate
Self-controlled
Respectable
Hospitable
Teachable
Not given to drunkenness
Not violent but gentle
Not quarrelsome
Not a lover of money
Manage our family well
(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
Growing in our relationship with God
Good reputation
Application
Matthew 16:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Father, you have called all of us who have been saved, to go and make disciples, to oversee those who want to follow you. Father, empower me with your Holy Spirit to live in a way that is leading people towards you, starting with my family. In Jesus name, Amen.
Deborah Lee
Psalm 11
1 Timothy__1
Scripture 1 Timothy 1:3-7 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Psalm 9
2 Chronicles 2
Observation-What does it say? The book of 2 Chronicles was written covering the same time period of 1 & 2 Kings. While the books paralleled each other, they differ in focus of the message. Where Kings focuses on the failings of men and morality, 2 Chronicles is more concerned with God’s faithfulness and redemption. Near the end of chapter two, we see that the aliens in the land of Israel were summoned to assist in building the temple. This further displays the redemptive heart of God, bringing all people, no matter their heritage, into His household and under His name. The theme of redemption is carried into the new testament. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5) Everyone who comes to Jesus is being fitted together as one unit, working as a small piece of God’s bigger will and story.
Understanding-What does it mean? Being involved in sports was a big deal in my household. My dad had been a star football player, and there was an unspoken expectation that my brother and I would continue the legacy. While I definitely enjoyed playing different sports growing up, I never really felt as though I belonged. I was athletic as a kid, but didn’t quite fit the mold of the “athletes.” I was a little goofy and had a hard time paying attention. I never really felt accepted. As I entered high school, I knew I wanted to be a part of a team, but not associated to the kids that had made me feel isolated elsewhere. When I showed up to the first day of summer cross country training, I found a group of misfits that all accepted me for who I was. If nothing else, I would have stuck with the team because I liked the way they treated me. God accepts us in an even more elaborate way. His love covers all of our sin, not just the little ones. He has called us out of our sin and redeemed us as sons. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”(Galatians 4:4-7) With Jesus, it doesn’t matter where we came from, who our parents are, or even that we like acid wash jeans. He still loves us and wants us to be apart of His family.
2 Chronicles 1
Scripture
2 Chronicles 1:11-12
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
Observation
Solomon was now seated on the throne of his father King David and had taken the role of King. His father had passed away and he inherited a great number of people. He had listened to his father’s instructions. God was pleased with Solomon and told him he could ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon felt the weight of responsibility and asked the Lord for wisdom.
Understanding
Gratitude and humility are always the correct response.
First, Solomon responded to God with gratitude.
2 Chronicles 1:8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place.
Second, with humility.
2 Chronicles 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
Solomon may have been around 20 years old when he took the throne. He was young and maybe it was obvious that he told God he was a child but it’s so much more common to see an arrogant 20 something that knows everything instead of being filled with humility. I definitely was! There was clearly a difference with him. Solomon’s brothers tried to just take the throne. They never asked their father or waited to be anointed by the prophet, they thought they should be king and took it.
God was so pleased with Solomon’s request as we read in 2 Chronicles 1:11 that he not only answered his request but gave him more than he could have imagined.
God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
Application
Gratitude and humility are always the correct response.
I’m so grateful that he made a way for us to enter into his kingdom and bless us with all that we have no matter how big or small.
Recognize the responsibility of the task that God gives to us.
Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Father show me how to love you the way you deserve to be loved. Holy Spirit empower me to love my neighbor, especially the ones that make it so difficult!
Oh the weight of the responsibility to LOVE God, our neighbors, and ourselves! This is just one example on how to apply this to our lives but the truth is that there is the weight of the responsibility to parent or to be a spouse according to God’s standards and commands. How about an employer or an employee? The list could go on.
Pride corrupts our true condition,we are mere humans in desperate need of God!
Instead let’s put on humility. We don’t and can’t possibly know everything. Let’s remain teachable remembering that God is making us into the image of his Son.